My mom, a preschool teacher, comes home after every first week of school recounting how many children were dragged into the classroom kicking and screaming by their parents. It’s the typical preschooler’s first day of school fear that when their parents walk out the door in the morning, they will never see them again. I was certainly no exception when I was in preschool. My earliest memories of my education date back to preschool and kindergarten, when I would cry and wrap myself around my dad’s legs until I was coaxed away by a handful of teachers. My most vivid memory from this time was using the computer during class to email my dad when I missed him. It must have been around the year 2000, and my parents had just purchased our family’s first computer at home. Therefore, I was extremely excited when my teachers at school would help me type an email to my dad who was at work at the time. I would write about simple things such as what we did in class that day and who my favorite teachers were. After that, preschool didn’t seem so scary anymore. My teachers became more like friends to me as they helped me learn to write my name, and shared in my enthusiasm when I finally organized all six letters in the correct order.
From kindergarten to sixth grade, I studied in four different elementary schools. My parents had gotten a divorce when I was five, causing us to move from district to district. I attended Fishing Cove and Stony Lane Elementary in North Kingstown up until fourth grade, when I moved to Quidnesett Elementary School. I made most of my closest friends at the schools in North Kingstown, and also discovered my true passion for learning. Growing up, I always wanted to attend North Kingstown High School. My mom had always talked about what a great environment was for my sister and I to grow up in. These schools had high expectations for their students from day one. I remember most of my elementary school teachers and how they helped me grow and achieve my goals as a student in different ways. Mrs. Glover, my first and second grade teacher, held regular spelling bees in which I pushed myself to excel in. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Cameron, taught me how to write in cursive, and awarded us official “cursive licenses” when we were successful. In the fourth grade, I memorized the capitals of all fifty states, which I can still recite most of today. While I don’t use all of this knowledge in day to day life, my teachers made a lasting impression on me and always strived to help me do better as a student.
My most influential elementary school teacher was Ms. Campbell, my sixth grade teacher at Holliman Elementary School. I began Holliman when I moved to Warwick in the fifth grade with my mom and younger sister. Warwick had a bigger city feel than North Kingstown did. While Holliman wasn't a bad school, there were many others in the district that didn't seem to meet the same standards as those in NK. Here, I met a lot more diversity among the students. This ranged from class, to ethnicity and most noticeably the diversity in learning. Many of the students in Ms. Campbell’s class were at what could be considered the “honors level” in elementary school. Again, I was met with high expectations that I desperately wanted to live up to. She always pushed us to reach our highest potential. I not only gained a lot of knowledge from her class, but I gained lifelong values such as respect and manners. I reached for good grades, but always remained humble. From elementary school on I’ve always enjoyed learning and still feel a rush of excitement when I have an “aha” moment and fully grasp a concept I’d been struggling with. In addition to my academics, I gained a new sense of community as I entered Holliman. Most of the students here lived in the same neighborhood as I did, so it became easier to make connections. This school fostered new friendships and hard work, things I will always be grateful for in the years to come.
Many of my memories from elementary school include adjusting to different schools and making new friends. Mostly, however, I remember it as the time I discovered my true passion for learning. I enjoyed doing my schoolwork and had the utmost respect for my teachers. At first, I aimed to please both my parents and my teachers. Over the years, however, I realized it was most important to please myself. I had to do my very best for me, and find motivation within myself. I loved learning something new every day, and have countless teachers to thank for instilling me with the skills I will use throughout the rest of my academic career. I would look at my teachers with admiration every day, knowing the someday that would be me standing up there instructing a class. Surely enough, here I am nearly ten years later, beginning my journey of becoming a high school teacher. I hope to make a lasting impression on future students just as my teachers did for me, but most importantly, help students discover their own passions and achieve their goals.
From kindergarten to sixth grade, I studied in four different elementary schools. My parents had gotten a divorce when I was five, causing us to move from district to district. I attended Fishing Cove and Stony Lane Elementary in North Kingstown up until fourth grade, when I moved to Quidnesett Elementary School. I made most of my closest friends at the schools in North Kingstown, and also discovered my true passion for learning. Growing up, I always wanted to attend North Kingstown High School. My mom had always talked about what a great environment was for my sister and I to grow up in. These schools had high expectations for their students from day one. I remember most of my elementary school teachers and how they helped me grow and achieve my goals as a student in different ways. Mrs. Glover, my first and second grade teacher, held regular spelling bees in which I pushed myself to excel in. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Cameron, taught me how to write in cursive, and awarded us official “cursive licenses” when we were successful. In the fourth grade, I memorized the capitals of all fifty states, which I can still recite most of today. While I don’t use all of this knowledge in day to day life, my teachers made a lasting impression on me and always strived to help me do better as a student.
My most influential elementary school teacher was Ms. Campbell, my sixth grade teacher at Holliman Elementary School. I began Holliman when I moved to Warwick in the fifth grade with my mom and younger sister. Warwick had a bigger city feel than North Kingstown did. While Holliman wasn't a bad school, there were many others in the district that didn't seem to meet the same standards as those in NK. Here, I met a lot more diversity among the students. This ranged from class, to ethnicity and most noticeably the diversity in learning. Many of the students in Ms. Campbell’s class were at what could be considered the “honors level” in elementary school. Again, I was met with high expectations that I desperately wanted to live up to. She always pushed us to reach our highest potential. I not only gained a lot of knowledge from her class, but I gained lifelong values such as respect and manners. I reached for good grades, but always remained humble. From elementary school on I’ve always enjoyed learning and still feel a rush of excitement when I have an “aha” moment and fully grasp a concept I’d been struggling with. In addition to my academics, I gained a new sense of community as I entered Holliman. Most of the students here lived in the same neighborhood as I did, so it became easier to make connections. This school fostered new friendships and hard work, things I will always be grateful for in the years to come.
Many of my memories from elementary school include adjusting to different schools and making new friends. Mostly, however, I remember it as the time I discovered my true passion for learning. I enjoyed doing my schoolwork and had the utmost respect for my teachers. At first, I aimed to please both my parents and my teachers. Over the years, however, I realized it was most important to please myself. I had to do my very best for me, and find motivation within myself. I loved learning something new every day, and have countless teachers to thank for instilling me with the skills I will use throughout the rest of my academic career. I would look at my teachers with admiration every day, knowing the someday that would be me standing up there instructing a class. Surely enough, here I am nearly ten years later, beginning my journey of becoming a high school teacher. I hope to make a lasting impression on future students just as my teachers did for me, but most importantly, help students discover their own passions and achieve their goals.